2008

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Alternative Site Locations* Candidate Nuclear Sites

( TVA Existing Nuclear PlantsM TVA Power Service Area 3 ' A6 Es

Summary of Screening Process

TVA evaluated and selected five sites as candidate sites in their ROI for potential siting of a new nuclearfacility. Each candidate site meets the eight minimum NUREG-1555 criteria for site selection. The TVAsite-comparison process resulted in the choice of BLN as the proposed site for further study.

General description of the alternative brownfield and greenfield sites is in this section. Supportingdocumentation and additional information are included in individual criteria and site sections in thisreport. The comparison of data is summarized in the table below.

As discussed in Section 9.3.2.4.2 of the COLA, in addition to the Bellefonte site (BLN), other brownfieldsites considered include the former Hartsville Nuclear Plant site (HVN), the former Phipps Bend NuclearPlant site (PBN), and the former Yellow Creek Nuclear Plant site (YCN).

For each of the four brownfield sites, construction permits were applied for and obtained under theregulations and evaluation procedures of the period. Although nuclear plant construction was nevercompleted at any of these sites, they offer many of the operating nuclear site advantages mentioned inthe ER. In addition to the brownfield sites, one greenfield site, the Murphy Hill site (MH), wasconsidered.

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TVA ASE SUMMARY OF RESULTSBLN C YCN IHVN PBN MH

Safety & Health Criteria -Geolonic EvaluationCooling System Suitability

Plant Safety Evaluation -Flooding Potential Evaluation

Accident Effects Evaluation -PopulationEmergency PlanningAtmospheric DispersionOperational Effects Evaluation

Transportation Safety Evaluation -Cooling Tower Drift

Environmental Criteria -Proximity to Natural AreasConstruction-Related Effects on Aquatic EcologyConstruction-Related Effects on Terrestrial EcologyConstruction-Related Effects on WetlandsOperations-Related Effects on Aquatic Ecology

Thermal DischargeEntrainment And Impingement Effects

Operations-Related Effects on Terrestrial EcologyCooling Tower Drift

Socioeconomic Criteria -Construction-Related EffectsHighway Access During ConstructionOperations-Related EffectsEnvironmental Justice EvaluationLand UseCultural Resources

Engineering and Cost Related Criteria -Water Supply Cost

Transportation -Highway Access CostRail Access CostBarge Access CostTransmission Access Cost

Site Preparation -Land Use And Ownership AssessmentTopographic ModificationsFlood Protection CostCooling Water Cost

55

55

55

5 5 5

4545

4555

455

4 5 5

4555

45

3555

45

5555

25

4 5 5

555555

555544

555

34

5 5 5

S

555

5

5

35

5332

3545

5

33

3525

Total 142 134 1341 =Least Suitable 5 = Most Suitable 1IL121I 121

Description of the Yellow Creek Nuclear Site

The former Yellow Creek Nuclear Plant is located at river mile 5 on the Yellow Creek embayment ofPickwick Lake. The area consists of a moderately dissected plateau in a transition zone between coastalplain environments and narrow, steep-sided valleys. Site elevation ranges from 500 to 600 ft. msl.Construction at YCN was canceled in 1984.

The Yellow Creek site in Tishomingo County, Mississippi, consisted of approximately 1149 ac., of which13 ac. have been retained by TVA. The remaining 1136 ac. were transferred to the Tishomingo CountyBoard of Supervisors and are now part of the Tri-State Commerce Park. This3500-ac. industrial park, of which the former TVA property is a portion, is contiguous with the formerTVA property on two sides; i.e., to the north and east. Most of the former TVA land at this site has beendeveloped, with only a few parcels not currently in use. Other than the development on the former TVAproperty, the remainder of the industrial park is basically undeveloped with no current users. Industriesin the portions of the park which were part of the former TVA site include aerospace-related firms,millwork, and fiberglass manufacturing.Employment is about 300. A new announcement of another fiberglass-related manufacturer was maderecently, with an expected employment of 120.

TVA would need to reacquire at least a portion of the former YCN site, as well as additional industrialpark property. Siting of a two-unit nuclear plant at YCN could involve the acquisition of both currentlydeveloped and undeveloped portions of the industrial park with some potential disruption of existingindustrial uses. Based on examination of topographic and aerial photographic information, the physicaland ecological conditions of the undeveloped portions of the industrial park are expected to be verysimilar to the portions of the peninsula evaluated in the earlier TVA EIS for the YCN site. A combinationof developed and undeveloped portions of the industrial park would provide an adequate amount ofproperty to site and operate a two unit nuclear facility with potentially minor to moderate effects on theexisting uses of the industrial park.

POPULATION: There are no towns within the 6-mi. radius of the Yellow Creek site; Luka, with apopulation of approximately 3,100 lies nearly 9 mi. to the north. The site is generally rural in characteris used predominantly for forest and agricultural purposes. Recreational use of the reservoir accountsfor the majority of the transient population in this area. The YCN site is 30 - 40 mi. from the Florence -Muscle Shoals - Sheffield - Tuscumbia urban complex located east-southeast of this site, with acombined population of approximately 66,000. The estimated population within a 50-mi. radius isestimated to be 250,000.

METEOROLOGY: For atmospheric dispersion, meteorological conditions at a site are monitored andevaluated as part of determining suitability for siting of nuclear plants. The observation of temperatureand wind conditions over time provides input into statistical models. The models can be used to helppredict probable atmospheric dispersion of releases. Topographic conditions also influence extremeweather and temperature variations. Sites with better meteorological conditions are rated higher (e.g.,limiting conditions affecting the transport and dispersion of plant emission would have a lower rating).

Assessment of the meteorological conditions at the Yellow Creek site did not indicate any limitingconditions.

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ECOLOGY: The USFWS' list of threatened, endangered and candidate species list for TishomingoCounty, Mississippi, consists of five plant and animal species, including two mammal species, one bird,and two mollusk species. Of the five species potentially present, only the gray bat and bald eagle havebeen observed near the Yellow Creek site. No federally listed threatened or endangered plant specieswere known to occur on, or immediately adjacent to, the Yellow Creek site. No important wading birdcolonies are reported within 3 mi. of the site.

Much of this site has been disturbed by previous construction activities and terrestrial habitat consistsprimarily of early to mid-successional vegetation. Relatively undisturbed forest areas are dominated byoak (Quercus spp.) and hickory (Carya spp.) species mixed with some pines (Pinus spp). The surroundinglandscape consists of similar forested habitat. There are no records of important wading colonies within3 mi. of the project site. The deciduous forested areas provide habitat for bird species such as wildturkey, Carolina chickadee, downy woodpecker, American crow, red-eyed vireo, and tufted titmouse.Other animals likely occurring in this habitat include white-tailed deer, eastern gray squirrel, white-footed mouse, slimy salamander, eastern box turtle, and copperhead.

Birds common in early successional habitats include Carolina wren, eastern bluebird, white-eyed vireo,northern cardinal, and indigo bunting. Common mammals include striped skunk, eastern cottontailrabbit, white-tailed deer, Virginia opossum and various rodents. Reptiles often found in early

successional habitats include racers, black rat snake, and eastern garter snake.

TVA monitored Pickwick Reservoir annually from 1991 through 1994 to establish baseline data on thereservoir's ecological health under a range of weather and flow conditions. Pickwick is now evaluatedevery other year. The overall ecological condition in Pickwick Reservoir was rated good in 2004, with thehighest score to date. The inflow rating, which is based on fish and benthos, also was the highest to datein 2004 and contributed to the overall higher score for the reservoir. Pickwick has scored about thesame every year - either "high fair" or good - depending primarily on chlorophyll concentrations,which are affected by reservoir flows, and conditions in the Bear Creek embayment, which generallyrate lower than at other monitoring locations on the reservoir.

Several state- and federal-listed aquatic species are known from Tishomingo County, Mississippi.However, due to the impoundment of Yellow Creek during the creation of Pickwick Reservoir andhabitat alterations in streams on the Yellow Creek site, none of these species are currently known tooccupy areas on or adjacent to the Yellow Creek site.The Yellow Creek Site occurs within the Transition Hills Ecoregion III that is a subdivision of theSoutheastern Plains Ecoregion IV. The Transition Hills contains characteristics of both the SoutheasternPlains and the Interior Plateau Ecoregions. It has some of the higher most elevations of the SoutheasternPlains and many streams in this transition zone have cut down into the Mississippian and Devonian-agerocks and look very similar to those of the Interior Plateau. Although there are small areas of croplandand pasture in the valleys and on gently sloping ridges, the region is mostly forested with oak-hickory-pine forest. There are no known uncommon terrestrial plant communities known to occur in the vicinityof Yellow Creek.

A review of the Natural Heritage Database indicates there are 159 records of rare plant occurrenceswithin 5 mi. of the Yellow Creek Site. There is one federal-listed species and60 state listed species known from within 5 mi. of the proposed area. The Federal Candidate species,Platanthera integrilabia (Monkey face orchid), was found during initial field reviews of the site in 1974.

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Due to construction activities in the area around Tackett Branch, plants have not been seen since 1991and the population is thought to have been destroyed.

Along with the historic record of the Federal Candidate species, Platanthera integrilabia (monkey-faceorchid), there are 16 state-listed species recorded from the Yellow Creek Reservation. Even thoughmuch of the Yellow CreekSite has been highly disturbed, a review of maps and knowledge of rare plantsin the region indicates that remnant habitat for these species could occur within or adjacent to theproposed area; therefore significant impacts to these botanical resources are expected from theproposed action.

NATURAL AREAS: Yellow Creek, in Tishomingo County, Mississippi, is adjacent to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Within one mile of the Yellow Creek site are Sandstone Outcrops ProtectionPlanning Site, Pickwick Lake Bluffs, Cooper Falls TVA Habitat Protection Area, Mississippi Wildlife andRecreation Land, and JP Coleman State Park. Other natural areas within a 3-mi. radius include DivideSection Wildlife Management Area, and Lauderdale County State Wildlife Management Area. This sitewould be the least environmentally superior site for natural areas.

WETLANDS: There are approximately 11 ac. of emergent and forested wetlands at the YCN site.Wetlands are concentrated in the southwestern corner of the site and are generally associated with theYellow Creek embayment and Tackett Branch.

Stringent environmental laws regulate dewatering or filling wetlands. For purposes of this comparison,most potential construction areas are located sufficiently far away that it will be possible to avoid mostwetlands. Thus, potential adverse impacts from dewatering or filling are expected to be avoided orminimized such that any potential impacts would be insignificant, and all sites are rated equally.

CULTURAL RESOURCES: Northern Mississippi has been the location of human occupation for over12,000 years. The prehistory and history of the area is generally divided into six broad periods: Paleo-Indian (10,000-8,000 BC); Archaic (8,000-1000 BC); Gulf Formational Period (1100-300 BC); Woodland(300 BC-AD 900); Mississippian (AD 1000-1700); and Historic (AD1700-present). Prehistoric land use andsettlement varies during each period, but generally short- and long-term habitation sites are located onflood plains and alluvial terraces along rivers and tributaries. Specialized campsites tend to be located onolder alluvial terraces and in the uplands. The Historic Period is represented by settlement in the regionby Europeans, Euro-Americans, and African-Americans and the subsequent removal of Native Americantribes. Tishomingo County was formed in 1832 by the state of Mississippi following secession of the landby the Chickasaw. Agriculture was important to the county throughout the nineteenth century and intothe early twentieth century. More recently, industry has increased throughout the county.

Prior to and during construction of the Yellow Creek Nuclear Plant, archaeological surveys wereconducted within the project location. These surveys resulted in the identification of 227 archaeologicalresources of which 76 were determined eligible as a district in the National Register of Historic Places(NRHP). Thirty-four of the 76 sites within the project area were investigated for intact sub-surfacearchaeological deposits, and nineteen of these were investigated further based on the presence ofintact deposits. TVA, in consultation with the Mississippi State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO),determined that the construction of Yellow Creek Nuclear Plant would have no adverse effect on thearchaeological district due to the mitigation measures reported by Thorne et al. (1981).

No historic/architectural resources have been identified within the project area; however no systematic

historic/architectural survey was conducted. Seventeen historic properties are listed on the NRHP inTishomingo County; however none of the properties are within the project APE or in the immediatevicinity.

TRANSPORTATION: Sites are compared with respect to costs for providing access by highway, rail, andbarge. Thus, three transportation criteria are considered. The purpose of the first transportationcriterion is to rate sites based on the length of additional or new highway construction required toprovide car and truck access. Highway access for Yellow Creek was previously upgraded in anticipationof construction. While some additional highway upgrades may be necessary to support construction andoperation of new nuclear power plants, no significant differential highway access development costs areexpected. All brownfield sites rated equally for this criterion.

The Yellow Creek site does not currently have rail access, and would require construction of bargefacilities.

TRANSMISSION: The Yellow Creek site would require 328 mi. of 500-kV and 14 mi. of 161-kVtransmission line to be construction on 6890 ac. of transmission ROW. It would also require additionalassessment for threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, land use, and potential impactsto water resources.

GEOLOGY: The Yellow Creek site lies within an area that is affected by earthquakes along the ReelfootTectonic structure at distances of 90- 140 mi. from the site. Intensities varying with location from a MMVIII to a MM IX should be employed for the safe shutdown earthquake for this area. The maximumacceleration for intensities of this level was estimated at 0.18 g for safe shutdown earthquakes.

Yellow Creek Site Figures

Yellow Creek Site Vicinity Map-Prepared by TVA, William H. Keeler III

Yellow Creek Site Acreage Map with Retained and Transferred Boundaries--Prepared by TVA,William H. Keeler III

Yellow Creek Site Land Ownership Status Overlay on Topographic Map--Prepared by TVA,William H. Keeler III

Yellow Creek Site Aerial Photo with Site Boundary--Prepared by TVA, William H. Keeler III

Yellow Creek Site and Tri-State Commerce Park Aerial Photo with Site Boundaries- Preparedby TVA, William H. Keeler III

Yellow Creek Site Map with Occupancy Status and Occupant Names-Tishomingo CountyDevelopment Foundation

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Yellow Creek Site 6-Mile VicinityTransmission ROW

-State Highways

101 Yellow Creek S4te Boundary

Reservoir A0 1 2 3 4Miles

C

113568

Yellow Creek Site

ARetained (13 acres)I Transfer (1136) 0 1,000 2.000 3,000 4.0000 iFeet10

Yellow Creek SiteLand Ownership Status

,000 2,000 3,O0O 4,000.... . ... .. i Pe el

Retained (13 acies)

Transfer j1136)0

Yellow Creek Site

1,000 2.000 3,000 4.000ýM !!!MFeet N11I

- Transmlssion ROW

EJ S&te Boundary0

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I ri-State Commerce Park includingformer TVA Yellow Creek Nuclear Site

undarIy 2h'arK Boundiary - - - M__ __ _ ilIes

EJolo CQI rook UAQ1o 31 ri-$itate Commerce

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ad amn ofie

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Yellow Creek Site MIap with Occupancy Status and Occupant Names

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